If you have been pregnant, are pregnant or are planning to be pregnant you may be interested to know how to ensure the cosmetics you routinely use are safe for your baby as not all ingredients can be used in the particular period.
Generally speaking the following ingredients are to be checked and ideally you should ditch any products including them. Note that this list is not exhaustive and that you should also always ask a doctor in case of doubt:
Benzoyl peroxide – often found in over-the-counter skincare products for acne treatment.
Thioglycolic acid – this is used in hair-removal creams.
Salicylic acid – usually found in cleansers, exfoliators, and spot treatment products to encourage exfoliation and unblocking of pores.
Hydroquinone – this is found in brightening products to treat hyper pigmentation.
Parabens – commonly used to help prolong the shelf-life of products and can be found in tons of different skincare products
Phtalates – used to help stabilise the formula in beauty products.
Formaldehyde – found in some nail polishes.
Diazolidinyl urea – found in find in mascaras; worth checking your mascara or welcoming slightly less long lashes for nine months!
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – a foaming agent found in soaps, cleanses and washes, so better to check your soap and shampoo.
Botox – works by being injected into the skin to paralyse muscle contraction around wrinkles… clearly not something you would want when pregnant!
None of the above ingredients are of course included in The Creamerie’s range that uses only natural and organic ingredients. However, be also aware that even in the world of natural products, there are a few things you will want to avoid: essential oils especially during the first trimester. Some essential oils (like lavender essential oils) are deemed safe during the rest of the pregnancy but it wouldn’t harm to apply a more conservative approach and wait for the little one to be safe and sound outside your belly to consider using them again (and that is to be double checked if you’re breastfeeding).
During these nine precious months you’ll want to keep your skin well moisturised to avoid or minimise stretch marks especially on your belly, breast and hips. Sweet almond oil is a great moisturiser in itself that can safely be used on the skin when you are pregnant. Other oils and butters, preferably organic; will also help keep the skin moisturised. It should also sooth itchiness if any
Having the above in mind, as a pregnant lady in 2021 I developed an all organic and vegan Body Butter with no essential oils – that actually smells like chocolate thanks to the organic unrefined cocoa butter I use. I have used throughout my pregnancy and also afterwards to help with breastfeeding and allow my belly to (kind of) flatten back without having much stretch marks. It is a very very very (VERY!) gentle product that I’ve also used to massage my son and as a nappy cream or on any rashes later on.
The pregnancy friendly range also includes:
the Vanilla Solid Lotion: free from essential oils, an amazing help for any very dry spots.
the recently introduced multi-purpose balm / Hair Mask (but not only!): a great asset to have throughout your pregnancy that can be used for so many things (there is a reason it is a multipurpose balm!). So a good option too if you don't want to use many different products!
The Creamerie offers a pregnancy bundle that is an ideal gift to any pregnant person or as a comforting post partum gift for new mums (as it’s equally important to pamper a new mum as it is to pamper a mum to be!).
If you have any question on the topic, please do not hesitate to leave a comment or contact me directly!
Creamery yours,
Marianne
M.a